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The Danger of Bumper Sticker Mentality
Apparently, I must have missed the memo that said that I must publically hate someone or something to fully actualize my human experience. I’m not apathetic, at least not in the usual application of the word. I do care about stuff–in my own private way. Private, in that I don’t feel the need to plaster […]
It’s Just A Word
Remember the old children’s verse; sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me? Well, I’m calling bullshit on that one. One ill-chosen word has weight and is capable of inflicting a hurtful sting. String a few of these words together and lives are impacted. Last week I posted about a setting […]
Life As A Lawn Sprinkler
California has been going through a drought, of sorts, for the last four years. I say “sort of” a drought because, depending on who you talk with, the state’s water worries are pretend, man-made, or a parched precursor to the End of Days. In a period of introspection — which could have been fueled by […]
When You Need To Get Knocked Down a Peg or Two
I got another reminder from the cosmos that my karma is due and payable… I took a break from writing for a couple of hours this week to take the Corgis to a therapy visit at a local assisted living and memory care facility for older folks. You know, do something good, clean the mind […]
When Did Travel Become Survival of the Fittest?
Travel used to be something fun. You remember vacation, right? That time you earned to go and get away from it all. What happened? The fun and excitement of getting away from it all has been replaced by fear and loathing (sorry Hunter S. Thompson). The entire process of getting overpriced tickets, checking in, and […]
Election Roulette
I started writing another post today and it got way too serious. I was going to talk about the balance of good and evil in the world — and the good seemed to be harder to find. Folks are all strapped for a gunfight over everything from who uses a bathroom, to politics and hate speech. Kinda gloomy, […]
You Know You’re Old When…
The Universe is a mean little kid Every now and again, the Universe sticks its bony leg out to trip you. The trip and fall might be psychic, but the sting is real enough. And the devious little bastard thinks it’s just the funniest thing ever. The twit plays dirty and hides until you’re feeling […]
Killing Time (At Airports)
I’ve been in a couple airports over the last few weeks, LAX, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Sacramento. Airports, as it turns out, are great places for people watching to pass the time. And there always seems to be time… I do the whole people watching thing and scoop up character details for new stories. You […]
Editing or Evolution
Edit or Die Time for something a bit more lighthearted and enlightening… Charles Darwin was a scientist of some renown and shaped the way we think of survival on this harsh planet with his epic, Origin of the Species, in 1859. While this monumental work got all the praise and attention, a lesser known unpublished volume was uncovered, entitled […]
How Do Drugs Get Into Prison?
Getting prohibited items inside a prison is more than a game, it’s business. Every so often, a naive junior legislator will leave a fundraising lunch long enough to pop their head into a committee hearing and express their handwringing shock and dismay over drugs and other contraband appearing inside prison walls. Contraband is any item prohibited by […]
James L'Etoile 